Your Guide to Caring for Flowers from St Luke's Florist

Expert Advice From St Luke's Florists

With decades of combined experience, our St Luke's Florist team provides exceptional floral arrangements to households, weddings, and businesses across the community. Every bouquet we create is crafted not only for its beauty, but for its lasting quality. To help our customers enjoy their flowers for as long as possible, we have put together our best expert tips on how to care for Flowers St Luke's and share our St Luke's Flowers tips. Whether your flowers were delivered for a special celebration or brightening up your workplace or living room, these trusted suggestions will help you extend the life and freshness of every stem.

Essential Care for Freshly Delivered Flowers

The first step to prolonging the life of your flowers begins as soon as they arrive. Our experienced St Luke's florists recommend the following routine for all floral arrangements, whether hand-tied or in water:

• Unwrap and Inspect: Carefully remove any packaging and check each stem. Remove any leaves or petals that look bruised, as these can decay more quickly and cause bacteria to grow.
• Use Clean Vases: Wash your vase thoroughly with warm, soapy water before adding fresh flowers. Leftover residue can introduce bacteria, dramatically shortening vase life.
• Fresh Water: Fill the vase with fresh, lukewarm water, not ice-cold. Flowers hydrate fastest when not shocked by cold temperatures.
• Trim Stems: Snip each stem at a sharp angle (about 45 degrees) under running water. This maximises the surface area that can absorb water and prevents airlocks.
• Use Flower Food: If you receive a sachet of flower food with your St Luke’s Flowers, mix it into the water as directed. This helps nourish and preserve your arrangement.

Key St Luke’s Flowers Tips for Your Vase

To keep your flowers looking their best for days on end, follow these proven St Luke’s Flowers tips directly from our local team:

• Change the Water Regularly: Every 1-2 days, thoroughly rinse out your vase and refill it with fresh, clean water. Remove any flower food residue or fallen petals to reduce bacteria.
• Re-cut the Stems: Trim 1-2cm from the end of each stem every time you change the water to remove any blockages and keep water uptake strong.
• Keep Cool: Place the vase in a cool location, away from direct sunlight, radiators, and draughts. Flowers wilt more quickly when exposed to excessive heat or fluctuating temperatures.
• Avoid Fruit Bowls: Keep your arrangement away from ripening fruit, as it emits ethylene gas which speeds up the ageing process in flowers.
• Support Heavy Blooms: Use a tall or narrow vase for longer stems, or provide light support for very heavy-headed flowers such as lilies or sunflowers, ensuring they don’t droop prematurely.

Seasonal Flower Care Advice

Different times of the year call for slightly varied care routines. Our experienced St Luke’s florists adapt each bouquet for the season, and share these seasonal tips to get the most from your flower delivery:

Spring and Summer

Higher temperatures and brighter sunshine mean flowers will dehydrate more quickly at this time of year. Place vases away from sunny windows, air-conditioners, or fans. Change the water more often if it becomes cloudy and check for wilting. During wedding season, St Luke’s Flowers require extra hydration for bouquets—misting loose blooms with water can help.

Autumn and Winter

Flowers generally last longer in cooler temperatures, but home heating can dry out arrangements. Keep centerpieces away from radiators and heating vents. Warm and humid kitchens can also accelerate wilting. In frosty weather, avoid placing arrangements next to cold window panes overnight.

Vase Life Hacks from St Luke’s Florists

Our team serving the St Luke's community have picked up some clever tricks over the years for maximising vase life. Try these handy hacks for a longer-lasting display:

• Floral Preservative Homemade Mix: If you don’t have a sachet, mix 1 teaspoon of sugar, a few drops of bleach, and a splash of lemon juice into the water. The sugar nourishes, the bleach keeps bacteria at bay, and the lemon balances pH.
• Revive Drooping Blooms: If stems begin to wilt, recut them and submerge the entire flower, head and all, in a sink of cool water for half an hour. They often perk up dramatically.
• Remove Foliage Below Water: Any leaves below the waterline should be stripped off as they encourage rot and make water murky.
• Use the Right Vase Shape: For mixed arrangements, wide-necked vases allow blooms to sit comfortably. For long-stemmed flowers, opt for taller, narrower vases to hold them upright.
• Avoid Overcrowding: Too many stems crammed into a vase can lead to bruising and speed up decay. Keep arrangements airy for good circulation.

Caring for Special St Luke's Florist Arrangements

Each type of St Luke’s Flowers has unique traits, and certain varieties have special requirements. Here’s how to care for some commonly requested blooms from our florists:

• Roses: Remove outer guard petals for a flawless look, and refresh water daily to keep stems turgid.
• Lilies: Carefully snip off pollen stamens as they open to prevent staining and extend vase life.
• Tulips: Tulips keep growing once cut! Trim them daily and support with a narrow vase.
• Hydrangeas: Submerge heads in cool water if they wilt and mist petals regularly to maintain turgidity.
• Sunflowers: Cut thick stems at a sharp angle and supply lots of clean water.

Expert Touches for Weddings, Businesses, and Homes

Our care tips are trusted by St Luke's households, brides, event planners, and business clients alike. For event flowers, always keep arrangements refrigerated or in the coolest area available before use. Mist bouquets lightly with water just before the event for optimum freshness. In offices and public spaces, position arrangements away from computers and heat sources, and appoint someone to check water levels daily.

Why St Luke’s Florist Care Makes the Difference

Our St Luke’s Florist team has a passion for creating and maintaining beautiful blooms for every occasion. Following our expert flower care instructions helps you enjoy your arrangements to the fullest. With the right care, many flowers stay fresh for a week or more, filling your space with colour and fragrance. For personalised advice or tips tailored to your particular bouquet, our experienced staff are always happy to guide you.

With these St Luke's Flowers tips from your local experts, your bouquets, centerpieces, and celebration arrangements will stay vibrant for longer, making every gift or occasion even more memorable.